Doors Will Open At New Schools

August 30, 1992|By KURT GREENBAUM, Education Writer

The Broward County School District ought to go into the moving business.

By the start of school on Aug. 31, officials expect to open four new schools and two temporary sites for new schools. Over the next six months, they expect to open another 12 schools to replace existing ones.

Of all the new things students, teachers and parents can expect this school year, the new buildings are among the more conspicuous.

Just ask Chuck Laughton, the school official who is in charge of the moves.

But everyone can expect a few other new items: A new program will teach computer technology to elementary school youngsters at Colbert in Hollywood, Broward Estates in Fort Lauderdale and Charles Drew in Pompano Beach.

Those programs are added to the existing 17 magnet programs in Broward schools that are designed to racially integrate schools by drawing white students into mostly black schools.

High school students will miss something: seventh period. That`s the extra class period that gave them time for more classes outside the basic requirements. Instead, they will have only six periods -- longer periods -- every day.

Throughout the course of the school year, eight middle schools are expected to get new computer labs. Those labs are designed to give students a taste of high-technology jobs so they can start thinking ahead to careers.

But the big-ticket item -- new schools -- is likely to cause the most commotion for Broward children.

-- Palm Cove Elementary shares space in trailers with Sheridan Park Elementary in Hollywood until its permanent Pembroke Pines building is ready in September.

-- Embassy Creek Elementary will share space with Pioneer Middle in Cooper City until its permanent building there is ready.

-- A new building for the Cross Creek special needs school will open at 1010 NW 31st Ave., Pompano Beach.

And throughout the rest of the year, the following schools will move into new replacement buildings: Cresthaven and Pompano Beach elementaries in Pompano Beach; Croissant Park, Dillard and Riverland elementaries and Everglades Middle in Fort Lauderdale; Perry Middle and Miramar Elementary in Miramar; Olsen Middle in Dania; Stirling and West Hollywood elementaries in Hollywood.

Every student gets a copy of the code and must return it with a parent`s signature. School officials take it seriously. Students who don`t take it seriously enough get disciplined.

Last year, students were suspended for taking LSD, carrying a water pistol on campus and innocently flashing a small pen-knife on a key chain. Drugs, weapons and anything that looks like a weapon are banned.

Some other highlights:

-- The dress code is often a topic of debate among School Board members. Torsos should be covered, dresses and skirts should be at least mid-thigh length and ``offensive, suggestive or indecent`` clothing, jewelry, buttons and haircuts are banned.

-- Each unexcused absence knocks 2.2 percent off your final grade for the grading period.

-- Students can still lose their driver`s license if they have 11 consecutive unexcused absences or 20 within one school year.

Your child and your school deserve recognition. You can get it in Class Notes, a weekly feature appearing in this section on Wednesdays.

We will report on elementary and secondary school students who have won awards or scholarships, earned places on honor rolls or have participated in unusual or outstanding projects. We also want to know what is going on in your schools.

Are you a parent new to Broward County schools, or a parent with a child just entering the schools?

If so, here`s something you might want to clip and post on the refrigerator as a reminder come November, February, April and June.

Sure, those months are significant for a lot of reasons: elections, Washington`s birthday, Easter, Father`s Day. But what we`re talking about here are report cards.

So if you see your 8-year-old hiding a yellow envelope under the mattress, or your teen-ager discreetly taking an envelop from the mailbox, you might want to refer to the distribution dates below.

Elementary school students bring report cards home. Middle school and high school students also bring them home, except the last quarter when cards are mailed. All report cards must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned.